Moffat Mungazi
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
PEEVED by recycling deadwood, masquerading as CAF A coaching badge holders, Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has written to the continental football governing body – the Confederation of African Football – for the green light to host the highest coaching qualification course on the domestic scene.
Post Sport has established that the country is most likely to host its first ever CAF A coaching course in December or January next year, if all goes according to plan, at least according to the country’s football governing body’s technical director, Jethro Hunidzarira.
Poor record keeping, characteristic of domestic football, estimated figures of Zimbabwe football coaches’ qualifications have it that the country has around 80 CAF A holders, 144 CAF B holders and 166 CAF C coaching licence holders.
However, of these, some are late, while others have long moved out of the country, leaving a bunch of CAF A holders, the same names that have been changing top-flight league clubs afor a long time now.
Zimbabwe last had a CAF A coaching course in 2017, and only a refresher course, of A Licence holders was held in February 2023 before the country was frozen out of the FIFA family of football playing nations.
ZIFA technical director, Jethro Hunidzarira confirmed that they are writing to CAF to have a CAF A coaching course held in Zimbabwe.
Hunidzarira described the need of that course as ‘desperate’.
“As I am talking to you now, I am the middle of writing to CAF so that we can be able to have a CAF A coaching course in Zimbabwe. This is something that we desperately need. If all goes according to plan, we should be having that course in December or January next year,” said the Zimbabwe Saints legend.
Most of the coaches currently attached to teams in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League have been around for quite some time, and most of them have coached Premiership clubs that can be counted by fingers of both hands, simply because of the regulatory stipulation that for one to coach a top-flight league club, they should possess the CAF A coaching badge.
However, the need for more coaches to attain this highest coaching badge can never be underestimated, let alone the need to have local coaches exposed to trendy coaching techniques.
For example, only recently, MWOS sent Lloyd ‘Samaita’ Mutasa for a refresher course in Turkey, while Scotland also sent Tonderai ‘Stanza’ Ndiraya to Turkey for attachment and results are self-explanatory, if events in the ongoing season are anything to go by.
Veteran football analyst and renowned player manager, Donald ‘King Azzurri’ Manhende said: “The dearth of courses and refresher courses for coaches in Zimbabwe has precipitated a stagnation in football development, wherein antiquated coaching methodologies and strategies are perpetuated. This has resulted in a lacuna in innovation and progress, hindering the growth of the sport. This has resulted in negative effects on the Premier League and national teams. Lack of tactical innovation is very clear. Outdated coaching methods fail to incorporate modern tactics and strategies, rendering teams less competitive.
“There is an apparent inadequate player development. Insufficient coaching expertise hampers player growth, leading to sub par performances. We have also seen how it stifles emerging talent. The absence of opportunities for young, dynamic coaches stifles fresh perspectives and ideas.
“To some extent this has resulted in Castle Lager Premier League stagnation. The league’s competitiveness and attractiveness suffer due to outdated coaching methods. National teams’ under-performance in the past has also been due to this factor. Zimbabwe’s national teams have been struggling to compete against more tactically astute opponents.”
Manhende said lack of latest coaching knowledge has negative implications.
“The implications include loss of competitiveness. Zimbabwean teams have been falling behind regionally and internationally.
‘‘There is also the aspect of player development being hampered. Young players may not receive optimal guidance, hindering their growth,” he said.
As part of the solutions, Manhende said: “Coach education programmes are a must. We should implement comprehensive coaching courses and workshops. There is need for mentorship. Pair experienced coaches with emerging talent. International collaboration is also of paramount importance.
“We need to partner with foreign coaches and organisations to share knowledge. By addressing the coaching gap, Zimbabwean football can revitalise its development, inject fresh ideas, and enhance competitiveness,” said the Sakubva-born football enthusiast.
Online Reporter